Chiral nucleic acid adjuvant having anti-allergic activity, and anti-allergic agent

ABSTRACT

An adjuvant which comprises oligonucleotides which comprise two to four CpG motifs each represented by 5′-X 1 CpGX 2 -3′ and has a length of 14 to 32 nucleotides, wherein a nucleic acid at 3′ end side of at least two CpG motifs is connected by phosphorothioate linkage, wherein each nucleic acids at 3′ end and 5′ end of the oligonucleotide is S type nucleic acids connected by phosphorothioate linkage, and wherein the oligonucleotide comprises at least one nucleic acid without phosphorothioate modification. The present invention relates to an adjuvant comprising the oligonucleotide represented by the sequence number 67. The present invention relates to an anti-allergic agent comprising these adjuvant.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention is directed to a chiral nucleic acid adjuvant and an anti-allergic agent that have anti-allergic effect by means of CpG oligonucleotides. In more detail, this invention is directed to the chiral nucleic acid adjuvant and the like that has CpG oligonucleotides having PS and PO structures.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

JP 2002-513763 T (Patent Literature 1), JP 2002-154397 A (Patent Literature 2), and JP 2002-521489 T (Patent Literature 3) disclose CpG oligonucleotides and the method of manufacturing them.

JP 2010-504750 T (Patent Literature 4) discloses that oligonucleotides, which have lipophilic substituted nucleotide analogues out of CpG motif, cause production of interferon-α (IFN-α).

Non Patent Literature 1 discloses that the S-form stereoisomer of CpG oligonucleotide trimer promotes MAPK signal.

Non Patent Literature 2 discloses PF-3512676 (Sequence No. 119), all parts of the sequence are phosphorothioated and S-form stereoisomer. Natural oligonucleic acid is readily reduced in vivo. On the other hand, oligonucleic acid with P—S modifications is difficult to be reduced in vivo. In the oligonucleic acid with P—S modifications phosphoric acid ester bond of oligo nucleic acid (P—O bond) is replaced with phosphoric acid thioester bond (P—S bond).

The Non Patent Literature 3 discloses that the CpG oligonucleotide (oligonucleotide having a CpG sequence) activates Th1 immune path through the Toll-like receptor (TLR9). CpG oligonucleotides can be classified into three types: class A-C. In CpG oligonucleotides classified as class A, the 3′ and 5′-phosphate-binding site of the end of 1-4 bases are phosphorothioate linkages (PS-binding), shows a strong IFN-α production inducing ability. However, its effects on B cell proliferation are weak. On the other hand, CpG oligonucleotides are classified as class B and C, all the phosphate binding sites are of S, shows a strong B-cell proliferation effect. However, its IFN-α production inducing ability is not so strong. Natural oligonucleic acid consists of phosphodiester bonds (PO bond) is readily reduced in vivo.

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

[Patent Literature 1] JP 2002-513763 A

[Patent Literature 2] JP 2002-154397 A

[Patent Literature 3] JP 2002-521489 A

[Patent Literature 4] JP 2010-504750 A

Non Patent Literature

[Non Patent Literature 1] Authur M. Krieg et al. OLIGONUCLROTIDES 13: pp. 491-499 (2003)

[Non Patent Literature 2] Clin Cancer Res. 2008 Jul. 15; 14(14):4532-42.

[Non Patent Literature 3] Krieg, A M., J Clin Invest (2007)117:1184-1194.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem

For example, all of the sequences of the CpG oligonucleotide disclosed in Non Patent Literature 2 are phosphorothioated. Therefore CpG oligonucleotides disclosed in Non Patent Literature 2 have problems that they might induce inflammation and toxic reaction. When the phosphorothioate backbone modification is removed from the CpG oligonucleotides disclosed in Non Patent Literature 2, the stability of the nucleotide decreases. In addition, there is a problem that Natural CpG oligonucleotides also readily reduced in vivo. An adjuvant which suppresses allergic reaction can be applied to a variety of applications. Furthermore, the adjuvant can be used as an antiallergic agent.

One object of the present invention is therefore to provide a stable adjuvant that comprises CpG oligonucleotide having anti-allergic effect.

Other object of the present invention is to provide an anti-allergic agent containing a stable CpG oligonucleotide. In particular, one object of the present invention is to provide a therapeutic agent for allergic rhinitis or an adjuvant for the therapeutic agent for allergic rhinitis, which comprises a stable CpG oligonucleotide.

Solution to the Problem

This invention is basically based on the following new finding. It is possible to enhance in-vivo stability of the oligo nucleic acid by controlling the molecular conformation of the oligo nucleic acid. It becomes possible to provide a stable oligonucleotide in vivo, without introducing the PS bond to all of the sequences. Because not all of the sequences have PS binding modification, the oligonucleotide of the present invention has excellent biocompatibility. The oligonucleotides of the invention also have an anti-allergic action as shown in the working examples below.

The first aspect of the invention relates to an adjuvant. As described above, the adjuvant has excellent biocompatibility and anti-allergic effect. Because the adjuvant of the present invention has the above characteristics, it has the following features.

That is, the adjuvant comprises an oligonucleotide which contains two to four CpG motif consisting of 5′-X₁CpGX₂-3′ and has a length of 14 to 32 nucleotides, wherein the CpG is non-methylated CpG without modified phosphate backbones, wherein the X₁ is A or T, wherein the X₂ is A or T. Phosphorothioated nucleic acids are linked at the 3′ end side of two CpG motifs of the oligonucleotide. Each of the nucleic acids at 5′ end and 3′ end of the oligonucleotide is S type nucleic acids connected by phosphorothioate linkage. The oligonucleotide comprises at least one nucleic acid without phosphorothioate modification. It is preferred that nucleic acids without modified phosphate backbones present on the part besides CpG motifs.

In preferred example of the adjuvant of the present invention, X₁ is A, and X₂ is T. Then, the nucleic acid with phosphorothioate bond is a first S-form T having phosphorothioate bond. That is, in the adjuvant of the present invention, a nucleic acid at 3′ end side of at least two CpG motifs is connected by phosphorothioate linkage. In the preferred example, T^(SP) (T^(SP) represents T with phosphorothioate bond) is present adjacent to the 5′-ACpGT-3,

More preferred example of the adjuvants of the present invention is an adjuvant that has a further second S-form T adjacent to the first S-form T (5′-ACpGTT^(SP)T^(SP)-3). Furthermore, an adjuvant that has a third S-form T adjacent to the second S-form T (5′-ACpGTT^(SP)T^(SP)T^(SP)-3) is also preferred.

In the adjuvant of the present invention, it is preferred that the nucleic acid base of 5′ terminal is the S-form nucleic acid base with phosphorothioate bond. Furthermore, in the adjuvant of the present invention, it is preferred that the nucleic acid base of 3′ terminal is the S-form nucleic acid base with phosphorothioate bond.

Specific examples of the adjuvant of the present invention are adjuvants comprising an oligonucleotide having the nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 4, 5, 9, 10, 20, 22, 23, 29, 30, 31, 39, 53, 54, 55, 59, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 81 or 84.

The oligonucleotide of this invention is preferred to be an oligonucleotide consisting of any of the following sequences.

TABLE 1 Seq. No. Sequence (5′→3′)  4 T*C*AACGTT*T*C*AACGTT*T*T*G*G  5 T*C*AACGTT*T*C*AACGTT*G*G  9 T*C*AACGTT*T*A*AACGTT*T*T 10 T*C*AACGTT*T*A*AACGTT*T*A*AACGGG 20 T*C*GACGT*T*GACGT*T*GACGT*T*GACGGG 22 T*C*GACGTT*T*A*AACGTT*T*A*GACGTT*T*A*AACGGG 23 T*C*GACGTT*AACGTT*AACGTT*AACGGG 29 T*C*GACGTT*T*T*GACGTT*T*T*GACG*G*G 30 T*C*GACGTT*T*T*GACGTT*T*T*GACGT*G*G 31 T*C*GACGTT*T*T*GACGTT*T*T*GACGTG*G*G 39 T*C*ATCGAT*T*T*ATCGAT*T*T*ATCGGG 53 T*C*GACGT*T*GACGT*T*GACG*G*G 51 T*C*GACGT*T*GACGT*T*GACGG*G*G 55 T*C*GACGT*T*GACGT*T*GACGT*G 59 T*C*GACGT*T*GACGT*T*GACG*G*G 64 C*C*GACGTT*T*T*GACGTT*T*T*GACG*G*G 65 T*C*GACGTT*T*A*GACGTT*T*A*GACG*G*G 66 T*C*GACGTT*T*T*GACGTT*T*T*GACG*A*A 67 T*C*GACGTT*T*T*GACGTT*T*T*GACG*T*T 68 T*C*AACGTT*T*T*AACGTT*T*T*GACG*G*G 69 T*C*GACGTT*T*T*GACGTT*T*T*GGG 70 T*C*GACGTT*T*T*GACGTT*T*T*GACGTTGG 71 T*C*GACGTT*GACGTT*G*G*G 74 T*C*G*ACGTT*T*T*GACGTT*T*T*G*ACG*G*G 75 T*C*GACGTA*GACGTA*GACG*G*G 76 T*A*GACGAT*T*C*GTCGTC*T*A*GACG*G*G 77 T*A*GACGA*C*GTCGT*A*GACG*G*G 78 T*C*G*ACGTTT*T*G*ACGTT*T*T*G*A*C*G*G*G 81 T*C*ATCGAT*T*T*ATCGAT*T*T*GACG*G*G 84 T*C*ATCGAT*T*T*ATCGAT*T*T*ATCGAT*T*T*ATCG*G*G

In above formula * indicates the stereoisomer caused by phosphate backbone modification by sulfur atoms. In each sequence above, at least one of the * is S-form stereoisomer.

The adjuvant of the present invention may contain the oligonucleotides that have anti-allergic activity and comprise oligonucleotides that one or two bases are substituted from, inserted to, deleted from or added to oligonucleotides having the nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 4, 5, 9, 10, 20, 22, 23, 29, 30, 31, 39, 53, 54, 55, 59, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 81 or 84.

As the oligonucleotides of the invention, the oligonucleotide represented by the following formula (I) (oligonucleotide having a nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 67) is preferred. However, another preferred oligonucleotides of the present invention, is oligonucleotides that have anti-allergic activity and comprise oligonucleotides that one or two bases are substituted from, inserted to, deleted from or added to oligonucleotides having the nucleotide sequence represented by formula (I).

T^(SP)C^(SP)GACGTT^(SP)T^(SP)T^(SP)GACGTT^(SP)T^(SP)T^(SP)GACG^(SP)T^(SP)T   [Formula (I)]

In above formula (I), ^(SP) indicates the stereoisomer caused by phosphate backbone modification by sulfur atoms having S-form conformation.

The second aspect of the present invention relates to an antiallergic agent. The term “anti-allergic agent” means a therapeutic agent or prophylactic agent for allergic diseases. Anti-allergic agent of the present invention comprise any of the adjuvants described above. Such anti-allergic agents may comprise known agents as an active ingredient as an anti-allergic agent. In this case, it is possible to enhance the effect of known allergy agent because the adjuvants also exert anti-allergic action, Further, it may be possible to improve the allergic diseases in patients unable to improve allergic disease by known allergy agent. Preferred examples of the anti-allergic agent is a therapeutic agent for allergic rhinitis.

The anti-allergic agent of the present invention may be those containing the oligonucleotide described above as an active ingredient. In this case, the anti-allergic agent of the present invention may be used in combination with a therapeutic agent known in allergic diseases. The anti-allergic agent of the present invention may also comprise only oligonucleotides of the present invention as an active ingredient. In this case, preferred examples of anti-allergy agent is a therapeutic agent for allergic rhinitis.

Effect of the Invention

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an adjuvant comprising a stable CpG oligonucleotide having anti-allergic effect.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an anti-allergic agent containing a stable CpG oligonucleotide having anti-allergic effect. According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a therapeutic agent for allergic diseases such as allergic rhinitis, or an adjuvant used in the therapeutic agent for allergic diseases such as allergic rhinitis, which has a stable CpG oligonucleotide having anti-allergic effect.

BRIEF EXPLANATION OF FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a graph that shows an anti-allergic effect of the chiral nucleic acid adjuvant to an OVA induced allergic rhinitis model mouse.

FIG. 2 is a graph that shows an effect of the chiral nucleic acid adjuvant for the density of IgE in the serums of OVA induced allergic rhinitis model mouse.

FIG. 3 is a graph that shows the measured value of OVA specific IgE in the serums of mouse.

FIG. 4 is a graph that shows the count of leukocytes in BALF, Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The following describes embodiments of the present invention. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below and includes those that a skilled person in the art will easily modify based on the following embodiments.

The first aspect of the present invention relates to an adjuvant. As described above, the adjuvant has excellent biocompatibility and anti-allergic effect. Because the adjuvant of the present invention has the above characteristics, it has the following features. The adjuvant of the present invention can preferably be used as an adjuvant for the anti-allergic agent. Particularly, the adjuvant of the present invention can be preferably used as an adjuvant for the treatment agent for allergic rhinitis. In these cases, the adjuvants of the present invention activate or support the function of the active ingredient of anti-allergic agents,. Then, it is possible to provide more effective anti-allergic agents.

The adjuvant of the present invention comprises an oligonucleotide which contains two to four CpG motif consisting of 5′-X₁CpGX₂-3′ and has a length of 14 to 32 nucleotides. Then, CpG represents non-methylated CpG without phosphate backbone modifications. X₁ is either A or T, X₂ is either A or T. The bases of the 5′ and 3′ terminals of the oligonucleotides are S-form oligonucleic acids having phosphorothioate bond. The oligonucleotides include at least one or more bases that are not phosphorothioate modification. It is preferred that bases without phosphorothioate modification are present in a portion other than CpG motifs.

“Oligonucleotide” or “oligo” means sugar (e.g. ribose or deoxyribose) binding multiple nucleotides (i.e. Phosphate groups and substituted organic bases (either of substituted pyrimidines (e.g. cytosine (C), thymine (T) or uracil (U)) or substituted purine (e.g. adenine (A) or guanine (G))). As used in this specification, the term “oligonucleotide” means both of oligoribonucleotide (ORN) and oligodeoxyribonucleotide (ODN). The term “oligonucleotide” includes also oligonucleoside (i.e., the oligonucleotide without phosphate) and any other organic base polymer. Oligonucleotides can be obtained from existing nucleic acid sources (e.g. genome or cDNA), but synthetic one (e.g. produced by oligonucleotide synthesis) is preferred.

CpG represents unmethylated CpG without phosphate backbone modification. C is 2′-deoxycytidine. G is 2′-deoxyguanosine. p is a bond between nucleoside with phosphodiester.

The oligonucleotide may have phosphate backbone modification on the part besides the CpG motif consisting of 5′-X₁CpGX₂-3′. On the other hand, there is the problem previously said on phosphate backbone with phosphorothioate backbone modification between all of nucleotides, it may be preferable that oxygen atoms are replaced by sulfur atoms by more than 20% less than 95%, it may be more than 30% less than 95%, more than 20% less than 90%, more than 40% less than 95%, more than 40% less than 90%, more than 40% less than 80%, more than 50% less than 95%, more than 50% less than 90%, more than 50% and less than 80%, or more than 60% and less than 95%. more than 20% less than 80%.

The oligonucleotide of the present invention is preferred to have the following, or comprising any sequence, it is preferable that an oligonucleotide has any of the following sequences.

TABLE 2 Seq. No. Sequence (5′→3′)  4 T*C*AACGTT*T*C*AACGTT*T*T*G*G  5 T*C*AACGTT*T*C*AACGTT*G*G  9 T*C*AACGTT*T*A*AACGTT*T*T 10 T*C*AACGTT*T*A*AACGTT*T*A*AACGGG 20 T*C*GACGT*T*GACGT*T*GACGT*T*GACGGG 22 T*C*GACGTT*T*A*AACGTT*T*A*GACGTT*T*A*AACGGG 23 T*C*GACGTT*AACGTT*AACGTT*AACGGG 29 T*C*GACGTT*T*T*GACGTT*T*T*GACG*G*G 30 T*C*GACGTT*T*T*GACGTT*T*T*GACGT*G*G 31 T*C*GACGTT*T*T*GACGTT*T*T*GACGTG*G*G 39 T*C*ATCGAT*T*T*ATCGAT*T*T*ATCGGG 53 T*C*GACGT*T*GACGT*T*GACG*G*G 54 T*C*GACGT*T*GACGT*T*GACGG*G*G 55 T*C*GACGT*T*GACGT*T*GACGT*G 59 T*C4GACGT*T*GACGT*T*GACG*G4G 64 C*C*GACGTT*T*T*GACGTT*T*T*GACG*G*G 65 T*C*GACGTT*T*A*GACGTT*T*A*GACG*G*G 66 T*C*GACGTT*T*T*GACGTT*T*T*GACG*A*A 67 T*C*GACGTT*T*T*GACGTT*T*T*GACG*T*T 68 T*C*AACGTT*T*T*AACGTT*T*T*GACG*G*G 69 T*C*GACGTT*T*T*GACGTT*T*T*GGG 70 T*C*GACGTT*T*T*GACGTT*T*T*GACGTTGG 71 T*C*GACGTT*GACGTT*G*G*G 74 T*C*G*ACGTT*T*T*GACGTT*T*T*G*ACG*G*G 75 T*C*GACGTA*GACGTA*GACG*G*G 76 T*A*GACGAT*T*C*GTCGTC*T*A*GACG*G*G 77 T*A*GACGA*C*GTCGT*A*GACG*G*G 78 T*C*G*ACGTTT*T*G*ACGTT*T*T*G*A*C*G*G*G 81 T*C*ATCGAT*T*T*ATCGAT*T*T*GACG*G*G 84 T*C*ATCGAT*T*T*ATCGAT*T*T*ATCGAT*T*T*ATCG*G*G

In above formula * indicates the stereoisomer by phosphate backbone modification. CG of the section corresponding to 5′-X₁CpGX₂-3 in above formula means unmethylated CpG without phosphate backbone modifications. The examples of phosphate backbone modifications are phosphorothioate backbone modifications, phosphorodithioate backbone modifications, or phosphoramidate backbone modifications. In these phosphate backbone modifications, phosphorothioate backbone modifications are preferred. phosphorothioate backbone modifications means that converting one of the two nonbridging oxygen atoms bonding to phosphorus atoms comprising phosphodiester bond of neighbor nucleotides into sulfur atoms. At least one of the * is S-form stereoisomer. Here, S-form stereoisomer means, as described above, stereoisomer that takes S-form when their atoms or bases introduced instead of oxygen atoms are sulfur atoms.

The oligonucleotide of the present invention is preferred that it is one of the nucleotides described above, and phosphate backbone modifications which exist in at least one of the sites other than CpG motif are oligonucleotides including phosphorothioate. That is, as described above, it is preferred that the oligonucleotide has phosphorothioate backbone modification also in the sites other than CpG. In this case, as described above, it is preferred that the phosphorothioate backbone is S-form stereoisomer. However, in the present invention, oligonucleotides with at least one unmodified phosphorothioate backbone is preferred than oligonucleotides that all parts of the sequence are phosphorothioated.

Synthetic Method of Nucleotides

The synthetic method for nucleotides is publicly known. The nucleotides in present invention can be produced by the publicly known method. For example, it can adopt that the methods disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 450870 and WO international application No. 2010/064146 pamphlet.

The other examples of the method for synthesizing nucleotide are introduced in Japanese Patent No. 4942646 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,912,332. The latter, the use of the solid support attachment linker to parallel synthesis or generic solid support, such as phosphate salt attaching controlled pore glass.

Furthermore, nucleotide can be produced by the method e.g. disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,383,534 A. For example, It can be produced by β-cyanoethyl phosphoroamidate method (S. L. Beaucage, M. H. Caruthers, Tetrahedron Lett. 1981, 22, 1859-62) and nucleoside H-phosphonate method (Per J. Garegg et al., Tetrahedron Lett. 1986, 27, 4051-4; Brian C. Froehler et al., Nucl Acid Res 1986, 14, 5399-407; Per J. Garegg et al., Tetrahedron Lett. 1988, 27, 4055-8; Barbara L. Gaffney et al., Tetrahedron Lett., 29, 2619-22). These chemicals can be synthesized by a variety of automated nucleic acid synthesizers available in the market. These nucleic acids are called synthetic nucleic acid. Alternatively, it is possible to generate nucleic acids of the present invention on a large scale in a plasmid. (Sambrook T. et al,. Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, New York, 1989) The nucleic acid of this invention can be separated into smaller pieces or administered whole. The nucleic acid is produced from nucleic acid sequence (e.g. genomic sequence and cDNA sequence) with the use of known techniques (e.g. techniques using restriction enzymes, exonuclease or endonuclease) The nucleic acid that has been prepared in this way is called isolated nucleic acid. An isolated nucleic acid, in general, is a nucleic acid which is separated from components which naturally are normally associated. For example, the isolated nucleic acid is a nucleic acid that is separated from the cells, nucleus, mitochondria and chromatin. The combination motif nucleic acid of the present invention includes both synthesized combination motif nucleic acids and isolated combination motif nucleic acids.

The combination motif oligonucleotides, if necessary, have a relatively resistant to degradation (e.g., are stabilized) are preferred in the use of in vivo. A “stabilized nucleic acid molecule” means a nucleic acid molecule that is relatively resistant for in vivo degradation (e.g., exonuclease or endonuclease). The nucleic acid stabilization is achieved through the phosphate backbone modification. The stabilized nucleic acid that is preferred in the present invention has a modified backbone. This modification of the nucleic acid backbone provides increasing the activity of the combination motif oligonucleotide when administered in vivo. In some cases, the combination motif oligonucleotides with phosphorothioate bond provide maximum activity and protect the nucleic acid from degradation by intracellular exonucleases and cellular endonucleases. Other modified nucleic acids, modified phosphodiester nucleic acids, combinations of phosphodiester nucleic acids and phosphorothioate nucleic acids (i.e. chimeric), methylphosphonate, methylphosphorothioate, phosphorodithioate, p-ethoxy, and combinations thereof mentioned are.

The modified backbones (e.g., phosphorothioates) can be synthesized by using automated techniques employing either phosphoramidate chemistry or H-phosphonate chemistry. Aryl-phosphonate and alkyl-phosphonates can be generated, for example, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,469,863. And alkylphosphotriester (charged oxygen is alkylated as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,023,243 and EP patent No. 092,574) can be produced using commercially available reagents by automated solid-phase synthesis. Methods for making modifications and substitutions of other DNA backbone have been described. (e.g., Uhlmann E and Peyman A, Chem. Rev. 1990, 90, 544; Goodchild J., Bioconjugate Chem. 1990, 1, 165).

The oligonucleotides obtained by synthesis may be purified by known methods, e.g., purified, deprotected, desalted and dialyzed by reversed phase HPLC. In this way, the oligonucleotides of the present invention can be isolated and purified.

This invention provides composition with one of the above oligonucleotides. This composition is a medicine composition. The composition contains an effective amount of any of the oligonucleotides described above and it may contain appropriate known carrier. The carrier may be a solvent such as water or alcohol. The carrier can be optional excipients, diluents, fillers, salts, buffers, stabilizers, solubilizers, lipids or other substance which is well known for medicine compositions in the art.

This invention also provides a vaccine adjuvant with oligonucleotide described above. The vaccine adjuvant, if necessary, may contain a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. U.S. Pat. No. 4,126,252 discloses vaccine adjuvant with oligonucleotide. The vaccine adjuvant with the oligonucleotide of this invention can include the disclosed elements in this publication properly.

The examples of allergic disease related to anti-allergic effect of this invention are systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), anaphylaxis or anaphylactoid reaction, allergic vasculitis, hepatitis, nephritis, rhinitis, arthritis, inflammatory eye diseases (e.g., conjunctivitis, etc.), inflammatory bowel disease (e.g., eosinophilic gastrointestinal disease, etc.), brain and cardiovascular system diseases, skin disease (e.g., dermatitis (e.g., atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, eczema, urticaria, pruritus, etc.), etc.), autoimmune diseases (such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, glomerulonephritis, Sjogren's syndrome, etc.), transplanted organ rejection.

Allergic diseases can be classified into type I˜type IV.

The examples of Type I allergy are an allergic rhinitis, hay fever, bronchial asthma, urticaria, atopic dermatitis, allergic conjunctivitis, food allergy, and anaphylaxis.

The examples of Type II allergy are autoimmune hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, granulocytopenia, hemolytic neonatal jaundice, pernicious anemia, rheumatic fever, myasthenia gravis, Hashimoto's disease, and an alopecia areata.

The examples of Type III allergy are serum sickness, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, lupus nephritis (chronic glomerulonephritis), systemic lupus erythematosus, acute glomerulonephritis, rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatic pneumonia, multiple arteritis, allergic vasculitis, and some in Sjogren's syndrome.

The examples of Type IV allergy are contact dermatitis, Hashimoto's disease, Behcet's disease, rejection after organ transplantation, graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), and Guillain-Barre syndrome.

Anti-allergic effects of the present invention is directed to all of allergy of type I˜type IV. In particular, the present invention can be suppressed type I allergy.

As shown in embodiments below, the oligonucleotides of present invention and the adjuvants containing them particularly have therapeutic effects in allergic rhinitis. Therefore, the oligonucleotides and the adjuvants are effective as allergic rhinitis therapeutic agents and adjuvant for the treatment agent for allergic rhinitis, respectively.

This oligonucleotide is effective to induce systemic immune response and/or mucosal immune response. The combination motif oligonucleotide of this invention can be delivered to a subject exposed to antigens for inducing enhancement of the immune response to antigens. Therefore, for example, the combination motif nucleotide is useful for vaccine adjuvant. Examples of the main agent functioning as adjuvant are a variety of vaccines. The adjuvant can increase the efficiency of antigen to be incorporated into the immune cells. The adjuvant is preferred to be able to be improved or enhanced or assist the original action with the active ingredient of the main agent.

The examples for the vacctine are vacctine for virus and vacctine for B hepatitis, A hepatitis, Japanese encephalitis, pediatric pneumococcal, diphtheria, cough hundred days, tetanus, measles, rubella, mumps, chicken pox and tuberculosis (BCG vaccine). Examples of the vaccine for virus are influenza vaccine, polio vaccine, human papillomavirus vaccine, rotavirus vaccine, vaccine for non-flops, polio vaccines and AIDS vaccine. The oligonucleotide of this invention functions as adjuvant by a very small amount. Therefore, the oligonucleotide of this invention have low cytotoxic compared with the conventional adjuvant and there are very few side effects. This makes the vaccine which is administrated in many targets very useful.

This oligonucleotide strongly induces type 1 helper T cells (Th1). As a result of this, the oligonucleotide attenuate the action of T-helper cell type 2 (Th2). In other words, it is expected that the oligonucleotide can improve the pathology of Type I allergy caused by the activation of Th2. The antiallergic agents in the prior art can not treat a condition and only be able to improve allergy symptoms. This oligonucleotides has the effect of restoring the allergic condition, which caused by the collapse of the balance of Th1 and Th2, to the normal state. The examples of Type I allergy are Allergic rhinitis, hay fever, bronchial asthma, urticaria, atopic dermatitis, allergic conjunctivitis, food allergy and anaphylaxis. In addition, oligonucleotides of the present invention can act in a very small amount as an anti-allergy adjuvant. Therefore, the oligonucleotides of the present invention have lower cell toxicity compared with the conventional adjuvant, and fear of side effects very small. This feature is extremely useful in allergy treatment.

This oligonucleotide can be administrated with a known anti-allergy treatment. The term “non-nucleic acid adjuvant” means any molecule or compound except the oligonucleotides described herein, which can stimulate the humoral immune response and/or cellular immune response. The examples of anti-allergic agent are antihistamines, steroids, anti-leukotriene agents, and the like.

The oligonucleotide of this invention may be formulated as a pharmaceutical composition in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. This oligonucleotide may be administrated to a subject directly or with a nucleic acid delivery complex. The nucleic acid delivery complex means a nucleic acid which is associated (e.g., ionic bond or covalent bond, or encapsulated in the way) with a targeting way (e.g., molecules which generate high affinity bond to target cells (e.g., surface of B cell) and/or increase in cellular uptake by target cells.). The examples of the nucleic acid delivery complex are nucleic acid associated with sterols such as cholesterol, lipids (e.g., cationic lipids, virosomes or liposomes) or target cell specific bonding factors (egg, ligands recognized by target cell specific receptor). Preferred complex can be enough stable in vivo to prevent from significant de-coupling before the internalization by the target cell. But the complex can be cleavage under appropriate conditions in the cells so that the nucleic acid is released in a functional form.

This oligonucleotide and/or the antigen and/or other therapeutic agents can be administrated separately (e.g. in saline or buffer solution), and may also be administered using any known delivery vehicles.

Dose of the compounds described herein for systemic administration, mucosal delivery or topical delivery is typically in the range of 0.1 μg/dose to 10 mg/dose. The doses depend on whether it is administered daily, weekly, or monthly, and in any other time. More typically, doses for systemic administration, mucosal delivery or topical delivery are in the range of 10 μg/dose to 5 mg/dose. The most typically, it is 100 μg/dose to 1 mg/dose, and the administrations of 2-4 times are performed apart for a few days or a few weeks. More typically, dose is in the range of 1 μg/dose to 10 mg/dose, most typically, in the range of 10 μg dose to 1 mg/dose. Then, the administrations are performed daily or weekly. The dose of the compounds described herein for parenteral delivery in order to induce an anti-allergic effect, is typically 5 to 10,000-fold more than effective mucosal dose for vaccine adjuvant or immune stimulating applied. More typically, it is 10 to 1,000-fold greater, and most typically 20 to 100 times greater. In case of that the oligonucleotide is administered in combination with other therapeutic agents or administered using specialized delivery vehicles, the dose of the compounds described herein for parenteral delivery is typically in the range of about 0.1 μg/dose to 10 mg/dose. The doses depend on whether it is administered daily, weekly, or monthly, and in any other time. More typically parenteral doses for these purposes are in the range of about 10 μg/dose to 5 mg/dose. The most typically, it is about 100 μg/dose to 1 mg/dose, and the administrations of 2-4 times are performed apart for a few days or a few weeks. However, in some embodiments, parenteral doses for these purposes may be used in the 5 to 10,000-fold greater range than the typical doses described above.

In the case of respiratory allergic diseases such as rhinitis and bronchial asthma, a dosage of the oligonucleotides of the present invention is preferably 1 μg or more and 10 mg or less. The dosage may be 10 μg or more and 1 mg or less. Further, the dosage may be 50 μg or more and 0.5 mg or less.

In the present specification, the term “effective amount” means the required or sufficient amount to achieve the desired biological effect. For example, an effective amount of a chiral nucleic acid for treating an allergic disease means the amount required to treat the disease. Combined with the teachings provided herein, by selecting the various active compounds and weighing factors (For example, potency, relative bioavailability, patient body weight, severity of adverse side-effects and preferred mode of administration), the effective prevention regimen and the effective therapeutic regimen, which are very effective to treat a particular subject without causing substantial toxicity, can be plan. The effective amount for any particular application may vary depending on factors, such as disease or condition being treated, the particular oligonucleotide being administered, antigen, subject size, and the severity of the disease and conditions. A skilled in the art can be empirically determined the effective amount of a particular oligonucleotide and/or antigen and/or other therapeutic agents without the need for undue experiments.

A therapeutically effective amount for any of the compounds described herein can first be determined based on the knowledge obtained in animal experiments. An effective dose for the treatment also can be determined based on the data about the CpG oligonucleotide which has been tested in human (human clinical trials has been started) and the data when the mucosal or local administration of known compounds having similar pharmacological activities [For example, other mucosal adjuvants (for example, LT and other antigens for vaccination)]. For parenteral administration, it is necessary to use higher dose. The applied dose can be adjusted based on the relative bioavailability and potency of the compounds administered. Adjusting the dose to achieve the maximal efficacy using the methods and other methods is well known in the art. In addition, a skilled person can easily adjust the dose.

When administered, formulation of the present invention is dissolved in a pharmaceutically demand solutions. The solution conventionally may include salts of pharmaceutically acceptable concentrations, buffering agents, preservatives, compatible carriers, adjuvants, and optionally other therapeutic ingredients.

For use in therapy, the oligonucleotide of the effective amount may be administered to a subject using any manner for delivering the nucleic acids to desired surface (for example, a mucosal surface and a systemically surface). Administering the pharmaceutical compositions of this invention may be accomplished by any means known to those skilled in the art. Preferred routes of administration are oral route, parenteral route, intramuscular route, intranasal route, the intratracheal route, inhalation routes, ocular route, sublingual, vaginal routes, rectal route, and the like, but not limited those listed herein.

For oral administration, the compounds (i.e., oligonucleotides, antigens, and other therapeutic agents) can be easily prepared by combining the active compound with known pharmaceutically acceptable carriers in the art. Such carriers enable the compounds of the present invention to be formulated as tablets to be taken orally by a subject to be targeted, pills, dragees, capsules, liquids, gels, syrups, slurries, suspensions and the like. The pharmaceutical preparations for oral administration may be obtained as solid excipient by adding suitable auxiliaries if necessary, subsequently grounding the resulting mixture and forming the tablet cores or the dragee cores by processing the mixture of granules. In particular, suitable excipients are fillers [for example, sugar (lactose, sucrose, mannitol and sorbitol); cellulose preparations (for example, corn starch, wheat starch , Rice starch, potato starch, gelatin, tragacanth gum, methyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl-cellulose, sodium carboxymethyl-cellulose) and/or polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)]. If necessary, the disintegrating agents [for example, cross-linked polyvinyl pyrrolidone, agar, alginic acid or a salt thereof (for example, sodium alginate)] may be added. If necessary, the oral formulations may also be administered in saline or buffer solution to neutralize the acidic internal state. In addition, the oral formulations may be administered without any carriers.

The dragee cores are provided with suitable coatings. For this purpose, concentrated sugar solutions can be used. If necessary, the concentrated sugar solutions may contain gum arabic, talc, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, carbopol gel, polyethylene glycol and/or titanium dioxide, lacquer solutions, suitable organic solvents or solvent mixtures. In order to identify or characterize different combinations of active compound doses, dyestuffs or pigments may be added to the tablets or the dragee coatings.

Examples of pharmaceutical preparations which can be administered orally are a fabricated capsule of gelatin, and a soft sealed capsule made of gelatin and a plasticizer (for example, glycerol or sorbitol). The capsule may contain the active ingredient, if necessary, mixed with fillers (for example, lactose), binders (for example, starch) and/or lubricants (for example, talc or magnesium stearate) and stabilizers. In the soft capsule, the active compounds may be dissolved or suspended in suitable liquids (for example, fatty oils, liquid paraffin, or liquid polyethylene glycol). In addition, the stabilizer may be added. Microspheres formulated for oral administration may also be used. Such microspheres have been well known in the art. All formulations for oral administration may be used in appropriate dosage.

For buccal administration, the compositions may take the form of tablets or lozenges formulated in conventional manner.

For inhalation administration, the compounds of the present invention may be administrated by aerosol spray from pressurized packs or a nebulizer using a suitable propellant (for example, dichlorodifluoromethane, trichlorofluoromethane, dichlorotetrafluoroethane, carbon dioxide or other suitable gas) as with a conventional usage. When using a pressurized aerosol, the dosage unit can be determined by providing a valve to deliver a metered amount. For use in an inhaler or insufflator, such gelatin capsules and cartridges, which contain a powder mixture of the compound and a suitable powder base, may be provided.

If the compound should be delivered systemically, the compound can be provided in a form that can be administered parenterally by injection (for example, bolus injection or continuous infusion). The formulations for injection may be provided in unit dosage form (for example, an ampoule or multi-dose containers) with preservative agent. The compounds may take such forms as solutions, emulsions or suspension in oily or aqueous vehicles. In addition, they may contain the formulations (for example, suspending agents, stabilizing agents and/or dispersing agents).

Pharmaceutical formulations for parenteral administration include aqueous solutions of the active compounds which are water soluble. In addition, suspensions of the active compounds may be provided as appropriate oily injection suspensions. Suitable lipophilic solvents or vehicles include fatty oils (for example, sesame oil), synthetic fatty acid esters for example, ethyl oleate or triglycerides), or liposomes. Aqueous injection suspensions may contain substances which increase the viscosity of the suspension (for example, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, sorbitol, or dextran). In order to prepare highly concentrated solutions, the suspension may also include agents that increase the solubility of the appropriate stabilizers or compounds thereof as necessary.

Alternatively, the active compounds may be in powder form which can be configured prior to use with a suitable vehicle (for example, sterile pyrogen-free water).

The compounds may be provided in the form for rectal or vaginal administration (for example, suppositories or retention enemas which may contain conventional suppository bases such as cocoa butter or other glycerides).

In addition to the above, the compounds may also be provided as a depot preparation. Such long acting formulations may be provided by using a suitable polymeric or hydrophobic materials (for example, as an emulsion in an acceptable oil), by using an ion exchange resin or by using poorly soluble derivatives (such as salts poorly soluble).

The pharmaceutical compositions may also include carriers or excipients which is a suitable solid or gel phase. Examples of such carriers or excipients include calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate, various sugars, starches, cellulose derivatives, gelatin, and polymers (for example, polyethylene glycol), but not limited thereto.

Suitable liquid pharmaceutical preparation form or solid pharmaceutical preparation forms are micro-encapsulated, chelated, coated on microscopic gold particles, included in liposomes, contained in the aerosol to be sprayed, included in the pellet for implantation into the skin, dried form in sharp on the object for scratching the skin, aqueous solution for inhalation or saline solution. In addition, the pharmaceutical compositions includes granules, powders, tablets, coated tablets, (micro) capsules, suppositories, syrups, emulsions, suspensions, creams, drops or preparations, which can release the active compound a long period of time. As described above, the formulations contain the excipients, the additives and/or the adjuvants (for example, disintegrants, binders, coating agents, sweetening agents, lubricants, flavoring agents, sweeteners, or solubilized agents) conventionally. The pharmaceutical compositions are suitable for use in a variety of drug delivery systems. Brief review of methods for drug delivery is mentioned in Langer (1990) Science 249: 1527-33 (which is incorporated herein by reference).

The oligonucleotide and that containing other therapeutic agent and/or antigen as necessary may be administered without being any processed, or may be administered in the form of a pharmaceutically acceptable salt. When administered in the form of a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, the salt should be pharmaceutically acceptable. However, the pharmaceutically acceptable salt may be used to prepare the pharmaceutically acceptable salts. Examples of such salts are the followings, but not limited thereto: HCl, hydrobromic acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, phosphoric acid, maleic acid, acetic acid, salicylic acid, p-toluene sulfonic acid, salt tartaric acid, citric acid, methane sulfonic acid, formic acid, malonic acid, succinic acid, naphthalene-2-sulfonic acid and benzene sulfonic acid. In addition, such salts may be prepared as alkali metal salts or alkaline earth metal salts (for example, sodium salts of carboxylic acid, potassium salt or calcium salt).

Examples of the suitable buffering agents are followings: acetic acid and its salt (1-2% w/v); citric acid and its salt (1-3% w/v); boric acid and its salt (0.5-2.5% w/v); and phosphoric acid and its salt (0.8-2% w/v). Examples of the suitable preservatives are followings: benzalkonium chloride (0.003-0.03% w/v); chlorobutanol (0.3-0.9% w/v); parabens (0.01-0.25% w/v), and thimerosal (0.004-0.02% w/v).

The pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention may contain an effective amount of the oligonucleotide, the antigen and/or other agents in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier as necessary. The term “pharmaceutically acceptable carrier” means one or more compatible filler, diluent, or encapsulating agent which is solid or liquid and is suitable for administration to humans or other vertebrates. The term “carrier” means a natural or synthetic, organic or inorganic component which is added to in order to facilitate the application of the active ingredient. Components of the pharmaceutical compositions can be mixed with the compounds of this invention and each component in a manner that the components do not interact with each other.

For the treatment of individual subjects, different capacities of the pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention are required based on activity of the compound, manner of administration, purpose of the immunization (i.e., prophylactic immunization or immunotherapy), the nature and severity of the disorder, the age of the patient and weight of the patient. Administration of a desired dose may be performed by administering an amount corresponding to dosage units at a time or by administering a smaller amount multiple times.

Examples of other delivery systems include time-release system, delayed release system, or sustained release system. Such systems may avoid repeated administrations of the compound, and may increase the convenience to the subject and the physician. Many types of release delivery systems are available, and are known to those skilled in the art. Examples of the release delivery systems include a polymer-based system (for example, poly (lactide-glycolide), copoly oxalate, polycaprolactone, polyesteramides, polyorthoesters, polyhydroxybutyric acid, and polyanhydrides). For example, microcapsules of the polymer containing the pharmaceutical compositions are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,075,109. The delivery systems also include non-polymeric system. Examples of the non-polymeric system are followings: lipids (sterols (for example, cholesterol, cholesterol ester), and fatty acids or natural fats (for example, monoglycerides, diglycerides, and triglycerides) and the like); hydrogel release systems; silastic system; peptide-based systems; wax coating; compressed tablets using conventional binders and excipients; partial fused to the implant. In particular, the system includes the followings, but not limited thereto: (a) an erosion-based system which the agent of the present invention is contained in a form located in the matrix (U.S. Pat. No. 4,452,775, U.S. Pat. No. 4,675,189 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,736,152); (b) a diffusion system which the active ingredient penetrate at a controlled rate from the polymer (U.S. Pat. No. 3,854,480, U.S. Pat. No. 5,133,974 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,407,686). In addition, pump-based hardware delivery systems can be used. Some of them are adapted for implantation.

The invention is further illustrated by the following examples. The following examples are should not be construed as further limiting. Throughout this specification, all of the contents of the cited documents are incorporated herein.

WORKING EXAMPLE 1

Synthesis of Chiral CpG Oligonucleic Acid

CpG Oligonucleic Acid (Mixture)

The oligonucleic acid (mixture) which had been synthesized using phosphoramidite method and purified using HPLC were purchased from GeneDesign, Inc.

Synthesis of the CpG oligonucleotide of which the three-dimensional structure is modified.

Extension of nucleic acid chain was performed by repeating the following steps (i)-(iv).

-   (i) 3% DCA (dichloroacetic acid)/CH₂C1₂ (15 sec), -   (ii) Condensation reaction [A mixture of 0.1 M monomer solution in     MeCN (See below) and 1 M PhIMT (Trifluoromethanesulfonic acid     N-phenylimidazolium) solution in MeCN in ratio 1:1, 5 min], -   (iii) Capping reaction [A mixture of 0.5 M CF₃Colm in THF and 1 M     DMAN (1,8-bis(dimethylamino)naphthalene)) in THF in ratio 1:1, 30     sec], -   (iv) Sulfurization reaction (0.1 M DDTT in MeCN, 90 sec) or     oxidization reaction (0.02 M I₂ in H₂O-Pyridine-THF solution, 15     sec).

After the chain elongation of nucleic acid, a solid phase carrier was collected in 1.5 ml microtube. The solid phase carrier was treated with high concentrated aqueous ammonia (1.2 ml, 55 degrees, 48 hours). The solid phase carrier was removed by filtration. A filtrate was dried in reduced pressure, and dissolved in water (1.0 ml). Then, the oligomer was isolated and purified by using a reversed-phase HPLC.

A procedure for adjusting 0.1 M monomer solution in MeCN (in case of Rp-Th).

Thymidylic acid H-phosphonate monoester (25 μmol) was azeotropic-dried with dehydrated pyridine and dehydrated toluene. It was dissolved in MeCN-CMP (N-Cyanomethylpiperidine) solution (9:1, v/v; 250 μL). Subsequently, Ph₃PCl₂ (62.5 μmol) was added, and the solution was stirred for 10 min. Then, AA-L (30 μmol; AA-D was used when Sp form was selected.) was added, and the solution was stirred for 10 min. In this way, the monomer solution was obtained.

In the description above, DDTT, AA-L and AA-D mean the abbreviated designation of the following compounds respectively. The obtained oligonucleic acids are shown in Table 1.

TABLE 3 Table 1 Oligo nucleic acids obtained in Working Example 1 SEQ. NO. Sequence  1 T*C*GTCGTT*T*T*GTCGTT*T*T*GTCGGG  2 G*G*GTCGTT*T*T*GTCGTT*T*T*GTCGGG  3 T*C*AACGTT*T*C*AACGTT*T*T  4 T*C*AACGTT*T*C*AACGTT*T*T*GG  5 T*C*AACGTT*T*C*AACGTT*G*G  6 T*C*AACGTT*T*C*AACGTT*G*G*G*G  7 T*C*AACGTT*T*T*AACGTT*T*T*AACGGG  8 T*C*AACGTT*T*A*ACGTT*T*T  9 T*C*AACGT*TAACGTT*T*T 10 T*C*AACGTT*T*A*AACGTT*T*A*AACGGG 11 T*C*AACGTTAACGTTAACGGG 12 T*C*GACGTT*T*T*GACGTT*T*T*GACGGG 13 TsCsGACGTTsTsTsGACGTTsTsTsGACGGG 14 TrCrGACGTTrTrTrGACGTTrTrTrGACGGG 15 G*G*GACGT*T*T*TGACGT*T*T*TGACGGGGG 16 T*C*GACGT*T*T*TGACGT*T*T*TGACGT*T*T*TGACGGG 17 T*C*GACGT*T*GACGT*T*GACGGG 18 TsCsGACGTsTsGACGTsTsGACGGG 19 TrCrGACGTrTrGATrTrGACGGG 20 T*C*GACGT*T*GACGT*T*GACGT*T*GACGGG 21 T*C*GAGGTT*T*A*AACGTT*T*A*AACGTT*T*A*AACGGG 22 T*C*GACGTT*T*A*AACGTT*T*A*GACGTT*T*A*AACGGG 23 T*C*GACGTTAACGTTAACGTTAACGGG 24 GGGACGTT*T*A*AACGTCTAGACGGG 25 T*C*GACGT*ACGT*ACGT*ACGGG 26 T*C*GACGTT*T*T*GACGTT*T*T*G*A*C*G*G*G 27 TsCsGACGTTsTsTsGACGTTsTsTsGsAsCsGsGsG 28 TrCrGACGTTrTrTrGACGTTrTrTrGrArCrGrGrG 29 T*C*GACGTT*T*T*GACGTT*T*T*GACGG*G*G

TABLE 4 30 T*C*GACGTT*T*T*GACGTT*T*T*GACGT*G*G 31 T*C*GACGTT*T*T*GACGTT*T*T*GACGTG*G*G 32 T*C*GACGTT*T*T*GACGTT*T*T*G*A*C*G*G*G* 33 T*C*GACGTT*T*T*GACGTT*T*T*GACGG*G*G*G*G 34 TsCsGACGTTsTsTsGACGTTsTsTsGACGGsGsGsGsG 35 TrCrGACGTTrTrTrGACGTTrTrTrGACGGrGrGrGrG 36 T*c*GACGTT*T*T*GACGTT*T*T*GACG*G*G*G*G 37 T*C*GACGT*T*GACGT*T*GACGTG*G*G 38 G*G*T*G*C*ATCGAT*G*C*A*G*G*G*G*G*G 39 T*C*ATCGAT*T*T*ATCGAT*T*T*ATCGGG 40 G*G*T*G*C*GACGAT*G*C*A*G*G*G*G*G 41 G*G*G*G*GACGATCGTCGGG*G*G*G 42 G*G*GACGATATCGTCG*G*G*G*G*G 43 G*G*GACGACGTCGTCG*G*G*G*G*G 41 GsGsGACGACGTCGTCGsGsGsGsGsG 45 GrGrGACGACGTCGTCGrGrGrGrGrG 46 G*G*GGGACGATCGTCG*G*G*G*G*G 47 G*G*GACGCGCGTCG*G*G*G*G*G*G*G 48 G*G*G*G*TCGTTCG*G*G*G

TABLE 5 Seq. No Sequence 49 T*C*ATCGAT*T*T*ATCGAT*T*T*A*A*C*G*G*G 50 T*C*GACGTTTTGACGTT*T*T*G*A*C*G*G*G 51 T*C*GACGTTTTGACGTTTT*G*A*C*G*G*G 52 T*C*GACGT*T*GACGT*T*GACGG*G 53 T*C*GACGT*T*GACGT*T*GACG*G*G 54 T*C*GACGT*T*GACGT*T*GACGG*G*G 55 T*C*GACGT*T*GACGT*T*GACT*G 56 T*C*GACGT*T*GACGT*T*G*A*C*G*G*G 57 T*C*GACGTTGAGGT*T*G*A*C*G*G*G 58 T*C*ATCGATATCGA*T*G*A*C*G*G*G 59 T*C*GACGT*T*GACGT*T*GACG*G*G*6 60 T*C*GACGTT*T*T*GACGTT*T*T*G*G*G*G*G 61 T*C*GACGTT*T*T*GACGTT*T*T*G*A*G*G*G*G 62 T*C*GACGTT*T*T*GACGTT*T*T*G*T*G*G*G*G 63 T*C*G*ACGTT*G*ACGTT*G*A*C*G*G*G 64 C*C*GACGTT*T*T*GACGTT*T*T*GACG*G*G 65 T*C*GACGTT*T*A*GACGTT*T*A*GACG*G*G 66 T*C*GACGTT*T*T*GACGTT*T*T*GACG*A*A 67 T*C*GACGTT*T*T*GACGTT*T*T*GACG*T*T 68 T*C*AACGTT*T*T*AACGTT*T*T*GACG*G*G 69 T*C*GACGTT*T*T*GACGTT*T*T*GGG 70 T*C*GACGTT*T*T*GACGTT*T*T*GACGTTGG 71 T*C*GACGTT*GACGTT*G*G*G 72 T*C*GACGTT*T*T*G*ACGTT*T*T*G*ACG*G*G 73 T*C*G*A*CGTT*T*T*G*ACGTTTTGACGGG 74 T*C*G*ACGTT*T*T*G*ACGTT*T*T*G*ACG*G*G 75 T*C*GACGTA*GACGTA*GACG*G*G 76 T*A*GACGAT*T*C*GTCGTC*T*A*GACG*G*G 77 T*A*GACGA*C*GTCGT*A*GACG*G*G 78 T*C*G*ACGTTT*T*G*ACGTT*T*T*G*A*C*G*G*G 79 T*C*G*ACGTT*T*T*T*A*ACGAC*T*T*G*A*C*G*G*G

TABLE 6  80 T*C*G*ACGTT T*T*AACGAC*T*T*G*A*C*G*G*G  81 T*C*ATCGAT*T*T*ATCGAT*T*T*GACG*G*G  82 T*C*ATCGAT*T*T*ATCGAT*T*T*ATCGA*T*G*G*G  83 T*C*ATCGAT*T*T*ATCGAT*T*T*AT*C*G*G*G  84 T*C*ATCGAT*T*T*ATCGAT*T*T*ATCGAT*T*T*ATCG*G*G  85 T*C*ATCGAT*T*T*ATCGAT*T*T*ATCGAT*T*T*A*T*C*G*G*G  86 T*C*ATCGAT*T*T*ATCGAT*T*T*ATCGAT*A*T*C*G*G*G  87 T*T*ATCGAT*T*T*ATCGAT*T*T*G*A*C*G*G*G  88 T*C*ATCGATATCGAT*T*T*G*A*C*G*G*G  89 TCATCGAT*T*T*ATCGAT*T*T*A*T*C*G*G*G  90 T*C*ATCGAT*T*T*ATCGAT*T*T*G*A*C*G*A*T  91 T*C*GACGT*T*GACGT*T*GACGT*T*G*G*G  92 T*C*G*ACGT*T*G*ACGT*T*G*A*C*G*G*G  93 T*C*A*TCGAT*T*T*A*TCGAT*T*T*G*A*C*G*G*G  94 T*C*A*TCGAT*A*TCGAT*G*ACGT*T*T*G*G*G  95 T*C*GAGGTTTGACGTTT*G*A*C*G*G*G  96 T*C*ATCGAT*T*T*ATCGAT*T*T*A*T*C*G*G*G  97 G*G*GACGATATCGTCG*G*G*G*G*G  98 G*G*GACGAC*G*TCGTCG*G*G*G*G*G  99 G*G*GACGACGTCGTCG*G*G*G*G 100 T*C*GACGACGTCGTCG*G*G*G*G*G

TABLE 7 101 T*C*GACGACGTCGTCT*T*T*G*G*6 102 T*A*GACGACGTCGTCT*T*T*G*G*G 103 T*T*GACGACGTCGTCA*A*A*G*G*6 104 T*C*GACGTAGACGTCT*T*T*G*G*6 105 T*C*GACGTAGACGTTT*A*G*G*G*G 106 T*C*ATCGATATCGATT*T*T*G*G*G 107 T*T*ATCGATATCGATA*A*A*G*G*G 108 T*C*GACGTAGACGATCGA*T*G*G*G 109 T*C*GACGAC*T*T*GACGAC*T*T*G*A*C*G*G*G 110 T*C*GACGAC*T*T*GTCGTC*T*T*G*A*C*G*G*6 111 T*T*ATCGATATCGATA*T*C*G*A*T*G*G*G 112 T*T*ATCGATATCGATT*T*A*A*A*G*G*G 113 T*C*ATCGAT*T*T*ATCGAT*T*T*G*A*C*G*T*T 114 T*C*ATCGA*T*ATCGA*T*G*A*C*G*G*G*G 115 T*C*ATCGAT*ATCGA*T*G*G*G 116 T*C*GTCGTTGTCGT*T*G*A*C*G*G*G 117 T*C*G*TCGTT*T*T*G*TCGTT*T*T*G*A*C*G*G*G 118 T*C*GTCGTTGTCGTTG*A*C*G*A*C*G*G*G 119 T*C*G*T*C*G*T*T*T*T*G*T*C*G*T*T*T*T*G*T*C* G*T*T

In above tables, oligonucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 119 is a known compound (Compound 119).

In Table 1, * indicates the position that the S-form phosphorothioate backbone modification or the R-form phosphorothioate modification were induced into the backbone at random. In Table 1, “s” indicates the S-form phosphorothioate modification. In Table 1, “r” indicates the R-form phosphorothioate modification.

WORKING EXAMPLE 2

Induction of Production of IFN-α in Simian Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMC)

The blood derived from Macaca fascicularis which has tested negative for B virus, diluted to 3 times with Hanks' Balanced Salt Solution. Then, the sample was layered on Ficoll-Paque PLUS centrifugation medium and centrifuged (2,600 rpm, 30 min). A fraction containing the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) was obtained. After the PBMC was washed with RPMI medium (1% penicillin and streptomycin), the PBMC was suspended in RPMI medium (10% FBS, 1% penicillin and streptomycin) at a cell density of 3×10⁶ cells/ml. The cells were cultured with various oligonucleic acids (mixture containing oligo DNA and DOTAP in a ratio of 1:3.2) in 96-well round-bottom plate for 17-24 hours using 5% CO₂ incubator. After the cultivation, cell culture supernatant was obtained by centrifuging (500 rpm, 5 min) the culture medium. Then, the concentration of IFN-α in the cell culture supernatant was measured using ELISA kit (PBL Assay Science).

The results are shown in Table 2 and 3. Table 2 indicates the IFN-α production induced by the oligonucleic acids of the present invention in simian peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). This results were obtained by using the oligonucleotides of SEQ ID: 1-48.

TABLE 2 Inducing effect by the ologonucleotide of the present invention in IFN-α production in simian peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) IFN-α (pg/mL) Seq. No. Average ±SE 4 2151 1259.46 5 388 144.35 9 2845 1127.16 10 256 173.70 20 2457 507.22 22 2492 985.99 23 3082 1379.50 29 1359 250.85 39 1778 478.20 31 1934 600.05 39 1580 2131.02

Table 3 indicates the IFN-α production induced by the oligonucleic acids of the present invention in simian peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). This results were obtained by using the oligonucleotides of SEQ ID: 49-118. The results in Table 3 were shown using relative values with the value in the case of using the oligonucleotide having the sequence (tcgtcgllllgtcgttttgtcgtt) of SEQ ID: 119 (conventional nucleotide: Compound 119).

TABLE 3 Inducing Effect of IFN-α Number of Seq. NO. Ratio ±SE samples 53 361 60 5 54 225 101 3 55 124 39 4 59 139 23 4 64 84 36 4 65 246 20 4 66 188 56 5 67 244 93 5 68 220 97 5 69 98 44 5 70 242 80 4 71 238 48 3 74 247 120 5 75 188 54 4 76 260 49 3 77 86 17 4 78 98 6 3 81 389 163 3 84 334 40 3

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 1

Using the nucleotide having the sequence of SEQ ID: 119 (conventional nucleotide: Compound 119), the concentration of IFN-α was measured in the same manner as in above example 2. The results are shown in Table 4.

TABLE 4 The concentration of IFN-α IFN-α (ng/mL) ±SE 52.2 6.2

WORKING EXAMPLE 3

Cytokine production profile in simian peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) The blood derived from Macaca fascicularis which has tested negative for B virus, diluted to 2 times with Hanks' Balanced Salt Solution. Then, the sample was layered on Ficoll-Paque PLUS centrifugation medium and centrifuged (2,600 rpm, 30 min). A fraction containing the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) was obtained. After the PBMC was washed with RPMI medium (100 IU/ml penicillin and 100 μg/ml streptomycin), the PBMC was suspended in RPMI medium (10% FBS, 100 IU/ml penicillin and 100 μg/ml streptomycin) at a cell density of 3×10⁶ cells/ml. The cells were cultured with various compounds (mixture containing CpG oligonucleotide and DOTAP in a ratio of 1:3.2) in 96-well round-bottom plate for 16-20 hours using 5% CO₂ incubator. After the cultivation, cell culture supernatant was obtained by centrifuging (500 rpm, 5 min) the culture medium. Then, in order to obtain the cytokine profile in the cell culture supernatant, 7 kinds of cytokine, i.e., IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12/23 (p40), IL-8 and TNF-α were measured using Milliplex MAP Kit Non-Human Primate Cytokine Magnetic Beads Panel(Merck).

Result

The results of the cytokine measurements are shown using a relative value in case that the value of the reference compound (Compound 119) is evaluate as 100%. All compounds strongly induced the production of Th1 cytokines in simian peripheral blood mononuclear cells. On the other hand, they could hardly induce the production of Th2 cytokines. Th1/Th2 ratio was 1 or more (Table 5).

TABLE 5 Cytokine profile when the oligonucleotide of the present invention is used. Seq. IFN- IL-12(p40) TNF- Th1/ No. γ NK, IFN-g α IL-6 IL-4 IL-8 IL-10 Th2 119 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 1 4 120 72 45 56 L 245 22 5.40 5 — — — — — — — — 9 141 52 43 55 L 108 46 3.07 10 40 58 23 54 L 72 47 0.86 20 323 58 39 43 L 130 17 18.76 22 160 76 42 59 L 136 36 4.41 23 119 81 36 52 L 159 27 4.48 29 — — — — — — — — 30 — — — — — — — — 31 — — — — — — — — 39 95 56 27 46 L 65 30 3.11 53 434 120  100  71 L 165 34 12.80 54 339 63 110  49 L 308 15 22.50 55 59 43 49 54 L 128 23 2.59 59 50 52 38 29 L 137 19 2.58 64 104 63 55 34 L 55 28 3.66 65 378 67 63 47 L 110 26 14.29 66 142 58 52 33 L 172 21 6.77 67 589 69 74 53 L 136 25 23.22 68 487 85 103  70 L 294 28 17.23 69 288 81 76 36 L 169 15 19.16 70 164 63 74 57 L 125 26 6.25 71 213 67 102  44 L 326 15 14.56 74 133 56 37 64 L 90 56 2.36 75 338 58 24 27 2 80  7 48.39 76 102 34 24 42 L 139 30 3.44 77 51 51 26 28 L 127  9 5.46 78 147 117  161  135  L 1194 48 3.09 81 — — — — — — — — 84 115 53 58 64 L 223 39 2.98

L indicates that the value of measurement is below the detection limit.

WORKING EXAMPLE 4

Efficacy Evaluation Test of Chiral Nucleic Acid Adjuvant Using Allergic Rhinitis Model Mouse

Experimental Procedure

Preparation of the Model Mouse

The OVA and ALUM or the compounds of the present invention and mixtures of pertussis toxin were administered to 7 weeks-old BALB/cAnNCrlCrlj intraperitoneally. This administration was referred to a first sensitization. After 5 days, the OVA solution was subcutaneously administered as an additional sensitization. As described above, the systemic sensitization using OVA was performed. During 4 days after the 18 days of the initial sensitization, the OVA solution was administrated in the nasal cavity of both sides of the mouse once a day using a micropipette. By this process, allergic symptoms was developed in the mouse.

Administration of the Compounds

In order to investigate the effect on allergic symptoms onset of oligonucleotide having a nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 67 (Compound 67), 30 μg of the oligonucleotide was administrated to the mouse subcutaneously 1 hour before the OVA initial sensitization or local sensitization.

The Number of Nose Scratching

In the fourth day of the OVA nasal administration (local sensitization), the number of nose scratching was counted for 1 hour immediately after the OVA nasal administration. Nose scratching was distinguished from the cleansing action and forelimb licking behavior, etc. Then, only the action that the mouse scratched the nose in forelimb was counted as a nasal scraping action. The results were shown in Table 6 and FIG. 1.

TABLE 6 Results of the measurement of the nose scratching (During one hour from just after the last nasal administration) Substances used for the initial Test The number of nose scraching Avar- sensitization agent (in each sample) age 1 OVA + Alum Saline 44 57 73 28 50 148 66.67 2 OVA + Alum Chlor- 1 12 21 29 12 14 14.83 phen- iramine 3 OVA + Com- Com- 49 40 66 57 66 23 50.17 pound 67Sp pound 67Sp 4 OVA + Com- Com- 34 128 67 39 57 33 59.67 pound 67Mix pound 67Mix

In Table 6, compound 67 mix indicates the oligonucleotide that part of the Sp-type was replaced with the Rp type in compound 67.

Measurement of OVA-Specific IgE in Mouse Serum

The concentration of OVA-specific IgE in blood collected after 5 days of the local sensitization was measured using Mouse Serum Anti-OVA IgE Antibody Assay Kit (Chondrex, Inc.). The kit was used in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions, The results were shown in Table 7 and FIG. 2.

TABLE 7 Resuls of the measurement of OVA-specific IgE in mouse serum Substances used for OVA-specific IgE the initial sensitization Test agent (Average ± SE) 1 OVA + Alum Saline 48.933 ± 14.458 2 OVA + Alum Chlorpheniramine 27.984 ± 9.936  3 OVA + Compound 67Sp Compound 67Sp 0.004 ± 0.003 4 OVA + Compound 67Mix Compound 67Rp 0.283 ± 0.107

Result

Allergy symptoms was evaluated using the number of nose scratching as an indicator.

There is a tendency that the number of nose scraching in the group administrated compound 67 was reduced compared to that in the OVA administration group. Sp stereoisomer of compound 67 strongly reduced the number of nose scratching than stereoisomers mixture of compound 67 (mix). On the other hand, in the compound 67 administrated group, the amount of OVA-specific IgE in serum was significantly reduced in comparison with the saline administrated group and the chlorpheniramine administrated group. The chlorpheniramine administration group was used as a positive control. In addition, the production of OVA-specific IgE was completely prevented by administration of Sp stereoisomer of the compound 67.

WORKING EXAMPLE 5

Efficacy Evaluation Test of Chiral Nucleic Acid Adjuvant Using Allergic Rhinitis Model Mouse

Experimental Procedure

Preparation of the Model Mouse (The Third Course)

The only OVA or the mixture of OVA and ALUM were administered to 7 weeks-old BALB/cAnNCrlCrlj intraperitoneally. This administration was referred to a first sensitization. After 5 days, the liquid of OVA or the mixture of the liquid of OVA and the compounds of the present invention (Sequence ID No. 67, Sp type stereoisomer) was subcutaneously administered as systemic sensilization.

During 4 days after the 18 days of the initial sensitization, the OVA solution was administrated in the nasal cavity of both sides of the mouse once a day using a micropipette. By this process, allergic symptoms was developed in the mouse.

Administration of the Compounds

In order to investigate the effect on allergic symptoms onset of oligonucleotide having a nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 67 (Compound 67), 10 μg of the oligonucleotide was administrated subcutaneously or administrated in the nasal cavity of both sides of the mouse at the additional sensitization, at 17th day from the first sensitization or at the first date of the local sensitization.

Measurement of OVA Specific IgE in the Serums of Mouse

The OVA specific IgE in the serums of mouse was measured by means of Mouse Serum Anti-OVA IgE Antibody Assay Kit (Chondrex, Inc.) in accordance with the instructions of the manufacturer using blood obtained after 5 days from the local sensitization. The result is shown in the following table and FIG. 3.

TABLE 14 1st additional Group sensitization sensitization 1 OVA/Saline OVA + ALUM OVA 2 OVA + ALUM/OVA/ OVA + ALUM OVA chlorpheniramine 3 OVA + ALUM/OVA + OVA + ALUM OVA + 67Sp 67Sp 4 OVA + ALUM/OVA/ OVA + ALUM OVA 67Sp (Day 17) 5 OVA + ALUM/OVA/ OVA + ALUM OVA OVA + 67Sp (Day 18) 6 OVA + ALUM/OVA + OVA + ALUM OVA + 67Sp 67Sp/OVA + 67Sp (Day 18) OVA-IgE Group Day 17 Day 18 Day20 (ng/mL) SE 1 — — comparison 50.89 17.09 2 — — chlorpheniramine 41.42 8.99 3 — — comparison 63.49 37.32 4 67Sp — comparison 25.61 5.61 5 — 67Sp comparison 60.62 9.73 6 — 67Sp comparison 47.19 13.75

Count of Leukocytes in BALF, Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid.

BALF taken at autopsy (local sensitization after 5 days) was centrifuged (4C, 800 g, 10 min). After removing the supernatant, the sediment is resuspend in 500 micro L of PBS. After mixing with Turk's solution, count is executed with the dilution rate was appropriately modified according to the number of cells. The results are shown in the following table and FIG. 4.

TABLE 15 Group 1 2 3 4 5 6 Neut. 1.75 2.33 0.42 0.42 0.25 0.08 SD 2.40 2.44 0.80 0.38 0.27 0.20 Eosi. 0.08 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 SD 0.20 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Baso. 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 SD 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Lymph. 0.83 1.00 0.25 0.25 0.67 0.92 SD 0.98 1.05 0.27 0.27 0.52 0.58 Mhg. 97.33 96.67 99.33 99.33 99.08 99.00 SD 2.40 3.25 0.93 0.41 0.66 0.55

Neut. indicates the neutrophil, Eosi. indicate eosinophils, Baso. indicates the basophils, Lymph. Indicates lymphocytes, and Mhg. Indicates macrophages.

Results

The group that Sp stereoisomer of the compound 67 was administered one day before the local sensitization (17th day from the first sensitization) showed remarkable decrease in IgE in blood, which is an indication of allergy symptoms, compared with the group to which chlorpheniramine was administered or the group OVA was administered.

The Chlorpheniramine is a Positive Control.

Number of leukocytes in BALF, Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid, show that tendency of decreasing the number of neutrophil over the groups to which Sp-type stereoisomer of compound 67 was administered. However the group to which chlorpheniramine was administered did not show such a tendency.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention can be utilized in the field of pharmaceutical industry. 

1. An adjuvant which comprises an oligonucleotide comprising two to four CpG motifs each represented by 5′-X₁CpGX₂-3′ and has a length of 14 to 32 nucleotides, wherein the CpG is non-methylated CpG without modified phosphate backbones, wherein the X₁ is A or T, wherein the X₂ is A or T, wherein nucleic acids connected by phosphorothioate linkage are connected at 3′ end side of at least two CpG motifs, wherein each nucleic acids at 5′ end and 3′ end of the oligonucleotide are S type nucleic acids connected by phosphorothioate linkage, and wherein the oligonucleotide comprises at least one nucleic acid without phosphorothioate modification.
 2. The adjuvant as claimed in claim 1, wherein the X₁ is A, wherein the X₂ is T, and wherein the nucleic acids connected by phosphorothioate linkage are first phosphorothioated T bound by phosphorothioate linkage.
 3. The adjuvant as claimed in claim 2, wherein the oligonucleotide comprises a second phosphorothioated T at the 3′ end side of the first phosphorothioated T, wherein a nucleic acid adjacent to 5′ end of the oligonucleotide is a S type nucleic acid bound by phosphorothioate linkage, and wherein a nucleic acid adjacent to 3′ end of the oligonucleotide is a S type nucleic acid bound by phosphorothioate linkage.
 4. The adjuvant as claimed in claim 1, wherein the oligonucleotide has a nucleotide sequence represented by the sequence number 4, 5, 9, 10, 20, 22, 23, 29, 30, 31, 39, 53, 54, 55, 59, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 81 and
 84. 5. The adjuvant as claimed in claim 1, wherein the oligonucleotide is an oligonucleotide represented by the formula I below (an oligonucleotide represented by the sequence number 67) or an oligonucleotide where one or more nucleic acids are substituted, deleted, added or inserted in the oligonucleotide represented by the formula I, and has an anti-allergic activity. T^(SP)C^(SP)GACGTT^(SP)T^(SP)T^(SP)GACGTT^(SP)T^(SP)T^(SP)GACG^(SP)T^(SP)T   Formula (I)
 6. An anti-allergic agent which comprises the adjuvant as claimed in any of claims 1 to
 5. 7. The anti-allergic agent as claimed in claim 6, wherein the agent is a therapeutic agent for allergic rhinitis.
 8. An anti-allergic agent, wherein the agent comprises the adjuvant as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5, and the oligonucleotide as an effective ingredient.
 9. The anti-allergic agent as claimed in claim 8, wherein the agent is a therapeutic agent for allergic rhinitis. 